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The Club "Dining Assessment" is Nearly Due
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jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 1:27:51 PM11/15/12
to
This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here.
So I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to
pay for it anyway.
I was looking at the lunch menu for the room they call The Pub and saw this:
Steak Guinness� and Kidney Pie:
Diced Lamb Kidney with Top Sirloin Beef, Pearl Onion, Mushrooms,
Carrots, Celery, Demi Glace and Guinness� baked in a Puff Pastry. $14
I've always wanted to try steak & kidney pie. Not sure about the
Guinness but the chef is Irish. At least it's not something I'd attempt
to make at home.
Oh, and the "chef" seems to be absolutely enamored with Kaiser rolls.
Or he gets a great discount on them. I've never seen so many sandwiches
being served on Kaiser rolls. Burger, grilled chicken, fried fish
sandwiches. Kaiser rolls. They have to jump through hoops on the rare
occasions I eat there because I can't eat poppy seed rolls.
Jill
dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here.
So I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to
pay for it anyway.
I was looking at the lunch menu for the room they call The Pub and saw this:
Steak Guinness� and Kidney Pie:
Diced Lamb Kidney with Top Sirloin Beef, Pearl Onion, Mushrooms,
Carrots, Celery, Demi Glace and Guinness� baked in a Puff Pastry. $14
I've always wanted to try steak & kidney pie. Not sure about the
Guinness but the chef is Irish. At least it's not something I'd attempt
to make at home.
Oh, and the "chef" seems to be absolutely enamored with Kaiser rolls.
Or he gets a great discount on them. I've never seen so many sandwiches
being served on Kaiser rolls. Burger, grilled chicken, fried fish
sandwiches. Kaiser rolls. They have to jump through hoops on the rare
occasions I eat there because I can't eat poppy seed rolls.
Jill
Chemo
Nov 15, 2012, 2:01:37 PM11/15/12
to
Steve Freides
Nov 15, 2012, 2:26:02 PM11/15/12
to
jmcquown wrote:
> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
> here.
Condo? Retirement community? My wife's aunt lives in a place where the
> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
> here.
norm is having one meal per day in their communal dining room and that's
part of what you pay for. You get to pick which meal it will be. I
don't think you get a choice in the matter, either, although they let
save up meals you've missed and you can use them for guests instead of
having to pay for the guests.
That'll be our Thanksgiving this year, 11 AM to 2 PM because they let
the staff go home for dinner. It's usually a buffet and it's usually
pretty good for institutional food, IMO. I don't really mind eating
there although I guess I'd get tired of it if I had to do it daily for
years on end.
-S-
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 2:32:19 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/2012 2:01 PM, Chemo wrote:
> On Nov 15, 10:27 am, jmcquown <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here.
>> So I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to
>> pay for it anyway.
>>
>> I was looking at the lunch menu for the room they call The Pub and saw this:
>>
>> Steak Guinness� and Kidney Pie:
>>
>> Diced Lamb Kidney with Top Sirloin Beef, Pearl Onion, Mushrooms,
>> Carrots, Celery, Demi Glace and Guinness� baked in a Puff Pastry. $14
>>
>> I've always wanted to try steak & kidney pie. Not sure about the
>> Guinness but the chef is Irish. At least it's not something I'd attempt
>> to make at home.
>>
>> Jill
> On Nov 15, 10:27 am, jmcquown <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here.
>> So I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to
>> pay for it anyway.
>>
>> I was looking at the lunch menu for the room they call The Pub and saw this:
>>
>> Steak Guinness� and Kidney Pie:
>>
>> Diced Lamb Kidney with Top Sirloin Beef, Pearl Onion, Mushrooms,
>> Carrots, Celery, Demi Glace and Guinness� baked in a Puff Pastry. $14
>>
>> I've always wanted to try steak & kidney pie. Not sure about the
>> Guinness but the chef is Irish. At least it's not something I'd attempt
>> to make at home.
>>
>
> Why not move?
>
Want to buy a house? LOL Don't ask silly questions.
I just ordered the Steak & Kidney Pie and also the batter fried cod with
chips (french fries). To Go. To be picked up tomorrow before it gets
dark, around 5:30. That was recommended because I don't drive after
dark. There are no street lights here.
I figure I'll eat the fried cod and chips within 20 minutes of getting
home. Might have to keep it in a low oven until I'm ready for dinner.
But even if I don't, I can crisp them in the oven.
The steak & kidney pie will go into the refrigerator. It can be gently
reheated in the oven when I'm ready for that meal.
Why don't I move? Because I *hate* moving.
Jill
Jill
Ed Pawlowski
Nov 15, 2012, 2:39:33 PM11/15/12
to
"jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:agkqhd...@mid.individual.net...
> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for dining
> at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The way it
> works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club, they tack
> the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement reflects the
> reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here. So
> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to pay
> for it anyway.
>
This is a common practice with country clubs. They divide the overhead
> at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The way it
> works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club, they tack
> the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement reflects the
> reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here. So
> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to pay
> for it anyway.
>
amongst members equally, not on a pay as you go basis. I guess for some
people that golf every week or so, it is not a problem, but for the light
user, it becomes expensive.
If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for a
drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 2:38:51 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/2012 2:26 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
>> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
>> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
>> here.
>
> Condo? Retirement community?
Some of my neighbors call it a "resort". Those are the ones who also
> jmcquown wrote:
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
>> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
>> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
>> here.
>
> Condo? Retirement community?
pay to play golf.
Chemo
Nov 15, 2012, 2:41:30 PM11/15/12
to
are complaining about.
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 2:43:56 PM11/15/12
to
sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help pick
up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
I can buy wine by the bottle and it goes towards the assessment. I may
have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
wine. :D
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 2:57:20 PM11/15/12
to
parents. After they died, I inherited the house.
My parents hadn't been "members" since 2001. It never occurred to me
I'd have to join their stupid club. I tried to contest it citing a
grandfather clause. I didn't win.
So, I've got to buy food or pay for nothing. I'm ordering food which I
will pick up, re-package and put in the freezer for winter.
Jill
Chemo
Nov 15, 2012, 3:00:57 PM11/15/12
to
dsi1
Nov 15, 2012, 3:19:56 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/2012 9:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help pick
> up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
Sign that condo over to me and I'll be happy to take care of that pesky
> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help pick
> up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
assessment! The condo is already paid for, right? I mean, I'm not going
to take over all the payments on this thing...
>
> I can buy wine by the bottle and it goes towards the assessment. I may
> have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
> wine. :D
least you won't have to deal with the non-member riff-raff. :-)
>
> Jill
James Silverton
Nov 15, 2012, 4:07:01 PM11/15/12
to
rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)
Extraneous "not" in Reply To.
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 4:22:01 PM11/15/12
to
Jill
pltrgyst
Nov 15, 2012, 4:37:38 PM11/15/12
to
On Nov 15, 10:27 am, jmcquown <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote:
> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not.
> The way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the
> statement reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
> here.
News flash: That's not ridiculous; that's the way that just about
> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not.
> The way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the
> club, they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the
> statement reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount
> at the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
> here.
every country club, yacht club,or tennis/social club with a kitchen
in the entire country works. What's "ridiculous" and "stupid" is that
people will sign a home purchase or club membership *contract* without
understanding and accepting its provisions.
They're the same kind who bitch incessantly about the provisions of the
homeowners association documents that they never bothered to read.
BTW, that's also dirt cheap for such a club.
-- Larry
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 4:45:55 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/2012 3:19 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> On 11/15/2012 9:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
>> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help pick
>> up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
>
> Sign that condo over to me and I'll be happy to take care of that pesky
> assessment! The condo is already paid for, right? I mean, I'm not going
> to take over all the payments on this thing...
>
It's not a condo. And unlike other "associations", the fees don't pay
> On 11/15/2012 9:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
>> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help pick
>> up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
>
> Sign that condo over to me and I'll be happy to take care of that pesky
> assessment! The condo is already paid for, right? I mean, I'm not going
> to take over all the payments on this thing...
>
for maintaining the yard. You'd have to pay for that or do it yourself.
That pesky food assessment is in addition to your paying for the
membership plus $285 a month. (If you have a spouse double those fees.)
That's completely separate from another $1900/year assessment for
maintaining the streets. BTW, that doesn't count paying annual county
property taxes.
> My suggestion is that you have lunch at the club and enjoy yourself. At
> least you won't have to deal with the non-member riff-raff. :-)
>
code. I'll just order a few meals between now and the end of the year.
I'll pick them up and stash them in the freezer for when I don't feel
like cooking.
Jill
dsi1
Nov 15, 2012, 4:52:05 PM11/15/12
to
$5,000 a year?
jmcquown
Nov 15, 2012, 5:11:31 PM11/15/12
to
has nothing to do with any of the other fees.
Jill
Steve Freides
Nov 15, 2012, 5:42:44 PM11/15/12
to
Chemo wrote:
> Sell the house and move.
Sounds like a good idea to me, too, although if you're old enough to be
> Sell the house and move.
taking care of aging parents, you're old enough to be considering a
place that provides some meals to you in your own retirement. Maybe
rent it out for a few years if you think you'd like it in your own
retirement.
-S-
notbob
Nov 15, 2012, 5:51:41 PM11/15/12
to
On 2012-11-15, James Silverton <not.jim....@verizon.net> wrote:
> Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
Not to mention possible good investments. I had 4 bottles of wine,
> Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
none of which I paid over $17 per, and eventually sold all 4 for over
$300! Wine collectors are jes as stupid as most other collectors.
nb
--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/
Pico Rico
Nov 15, 2012, 7:48:04 PM11/15/12
to
"Steve Freides" <st...@kbnj.com> wrote in message
news:k83r56$k34$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
Pico Rico
Nov 15, 2012, 10:15:38 PM11/15/12
to
news:agl7kn...@mid.individual.net...
Isn't that all about keeping out the riff raff? I guess you are in the
early stages . . .
early stages . . .
Cheryl
Nov 16, 2012, 12:29:57 AM11/16/12
to
not happy. Maybe a few years away while renting would help out some!
If I were in that situation I'd sure consider it.
merryb
Nov 16, 2012, 12:45:32 AM11/16/12
to
risk in renting, but with a good agent on her side, I am sure there
have to be older folks looking to rent and use the dining options for
a short term.
news
Nov 16, 2012, 8:57:37 AM11/16/12
to
news:agkv00...@mid.individual.net...
what can I say?)
> I can buy wine by the bottle and it goes towards the assessment. I may
> have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
> wine. :D
>
> Jill
Why store it when you can drink it? I'd stay drunk all the time! (Hey, hey ,
> have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
> wine. :D
>
> Jill
what can I say?)
sf
Nov 16, 2012, 9:29:31 AM11/16/12
to
On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:26:02 -0500, "Steve Freides" <st...@kbnj.com>
wrote:
> Condo? Retirement community? My wife's aunt lives in a place where the
> norm is having one meal per day in their communal dining room and that's
> part of what you pay for. You get to pick which meal it will be. I
> don't think you get a choice in the matter, either, although they let
> save up meals you've missed and you can use them for guests instead of
> having to pay for the guests.
>
> That'll be our Thanksgiving this year, 11 AM to 2 PM because they let
> the staff go home for dinner. It's usually a buffet and it's usually
> pretty good for institutional food, IMO. I don't really mind eating
> there although I guess I'd get tired of it if I had to do it daily for
> years on end.
My ex-next door neighbor moved into a one bedroom apartment in a very
nice retirement home. She gets breakfast and dinner through her
monthly rent (not cheap) and they have a tiny '50s soda parlor decor
type place where residents can take guests for lunch. We ate there
and were only charged $5 per person. She told me at the two year mark
that she'd never used her kitchen. I imagine she makes tea or pours
juice, but she hasn't cooked. Good for her! She's the gregarious
type and needs to be in the dining room socializing.
--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
wrote:
> Condo? Retirement community? My wife's aunt lives in a place where the
> norm is having one meal per day in their communal dining room and that's
> part of what you pay for. You get to pick which meal it will be. I
> don't think you get a choice in the matter, either, although they let
> save up meals you've missed and you can use them for guests instead of
> having to pay for the guests.
>
> That'll be our Thanksgiving this year, 11 AM to 2 PM because they let
> the staff go home for dinner. It's usually a buffet and it's usually
> pretty good for institutional food, IMO. I don't really mind eating
> there although I guess I'd get tired of it if I had to do it daily for
> years on end.
nice retirement home. She gets breakfast and dinner through her
monthly rent (not cheap) and they have a tiny '50s soda parlor decor
type place where residents can take guests for lunch. We ate there
and were only charged $5 per person. She told me at the two year mark
that she'd never used her kitchen. I imagine she makes tea or pours
juice, but she hasn't cooked. Good for her! She's the gregarious
type and needs to be in the dining room socializing.
--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
sf
Nov 16, 2012, 9:31:52 AM11/16/12
to
On 15 Nov 2012 22:51:41 GMT, notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
> On 2012-11-15, James Silverton <not.jim....@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> > rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
>
> Not to mention possible good investments. I had 4 bottles of wine,
> none of which I paid over $17 per, and eventually sold all 4 for over
> $300! Wine collectors are jes as stupid as most other collectors.
>
Especially if they buy from some numbskull that hasn't stored them
> On 2012-11-15, James Silverton <not.jim....@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> > rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
>
> Not to mention possible good investments. I had 4 bottles of wine,
> none of which I paid over $17 per, and eventually sold all 4 for over
> $300! Wine collectors are jes as stupid as most other collectors.
>
properly.
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 9:32:23 AM11/16/12
to
On 11/15/2012 4:07 PM, James Silverton wrote:
> On 11/15/2012 2:43 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 11/15/2012 2:39 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>> "jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:agkqhd...@mid.individual.net...
>> On 11/15/2012 2:39 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>> "jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:agkqhd...@mid.individual.net...
>>>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total
>>>> amount at
>>>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
>>>> here. So
>>>> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have
>>>> to pay
>>>> for it anyway.
>>>>
>>>
>>> This is a common practice with country clubs. They divide the overhead
>>> amongst members equally, not on a pay as you go basis. I guess for
>>> some
>>> people that golf every week or so, it is not a problem, but for the
>>> light
>>> user, it becomes expensive.
>>>
>>> If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for a
>>> drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
>>>
>>>
>> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
>> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help
>> pick up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
>>
>> I can buy wine by the bottle and it goes towards the assessment. I may
>> have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
>> wine. :D
>>
>> Jill
> Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
>
Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>>>> amount at
>>>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work
>>>> here. So
>>>> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have
>>>> to pay
>>>> for it anyway.
>>>>
>>>
>>> This is a common practice with country clubs. They divide the overhead
>>> amongst members equally, not on a pay as you go basis. I guess for
>>> some
>>> people that golf every week or so, it is not a problem, but for the
>>> light
>>> user, it becomes expensive.
>>>
>>> If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for a
>>> drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
>>>
>>>
>> ROFL! Only if I can get them to reimburse me for their meals after I
>> sign the "check". I wouldn't invite people over to have them help
>> pick up the tab. I rather resent the assessment thing.
>>
>> I can buy wine by the bottle and it goes towards the assessment. I may
>> have room to store china but I don't have anywhere to store bottles of
>> wine. :D
>>
>> Jill
> Actually, bottles of wine are quite decorative and you could buy a small
> rack to hold them. You aren't that beat for wall space are you?
>
bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
Jill
pltrgyst
Nov 16, 2012, 9:34:13 AM11/16/12
to
On 11/15/12 10:15 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>>>> BTW, that's also dirt cheap for such a club.
>>>
>>>> BTW, that's also dirt cheap for such a club.
>>>
>>> That does sound dirt cheap. Don't real country clubs cost something like
>>> $5,000 a year?
>>
>> You folks have no idea. This is just the annual DINING assessment. It
>> has nothing to do with any of the other fees.
I do have an idea -- and I meant that that is cheap for a dining
>>> $5,000 a year?
>>
>> You folks have no idea. This is just the annual DINING assessment. It
>> has nothing to do with any of the other fees.
assessment. Yes, many, many clubs cost far more in annual dues. But most
of the ones I'm familiar with (including the club in the neighborhood
we're moving to in FL) have annual dining assessments of at least $1500.
-- Larry
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 9:46:44 AM11/16/12
to
On 11/15/2012 2:39 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:agkqhd...@mid.individual.net...
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for dining
>> at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The way it
>> works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club, they tack
>> the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement reflects the
>> reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here. So
>> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to pay
>> for it anyway.
>>
>
> This is a common practice with country clubs. They divide the overhead
> amongst members equally, not on a pay as you go basis. I guess for some
> people that golf every week or so, it is not a problem, but for the light
> user, it becomes expensive.
>
Indeed it does become expensive. But even my father, who *did* have a
> news:agkqhd...@mid.individual.net...
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for dining
>> at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The way it
>> works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club, they tack
>> the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement reflects the
>> reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> If you don't eat there, they'll still charge you for the total amount at
>> the end of the year. It's stupid but that's the way things work here. So
>> I figured I might as well get a meal or two out of it since I have to pay
>> for it anyway.
>>
>
> This is a common practice with country clubs. They divide the overhead
> amongst members equally, not on a pay as you go basis. I guess for some
> people that golf every week or so, it is not a problem, but for the light
> user, it becomes expensive.
>
full golf membership (that's not cheap!) didn't like being told he had
to pay for meals he didn't eat. Over the years when I'd visit he and
Mom and I would go to the club just so he could count it towards the
dining assessment. I still can't figure out why, since he'd have had to
pay for it whether we ate there or not, and he was always complaining
about the food. LOL
As for the food, it's nothing to write home about. The current chef is
either obsessed with or gets a rally great deal on Kaiser rolls.
Practically every sandwich, even a hamburger, is served on a Kaiser
roll! I have to avoid the poppy seeds so if I want a burger they have
to scrounge around to find a regular hamburger bun without seeds. Hey,
they're taking my money so I should be able to have it "my way" :)
> If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for a
> drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
>
home :)
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 9:56:29 AM11/16/12
to
you're *choosing* to move there. This wasn't my idea.
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 10:16:39 AM11/16/12
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On 11/15/2012 5:42 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
getting specific permission from the Board. Assuming I got permission,
the renters would have to agree to join the club on a temporary basis.
And I suspect if they defaulted I'd still be responsible for those bills.
Then there's the horrors of being a landlord. That's definitely not
something I'm interested in becoming.
I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon :)
Jill
sf
Nov 16, 2012, 10:28:50 AM11/16/12
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On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:32:23 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:
> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack.
If you're going to store decent wine for any amount of time, then you
might as well make it a wine cooler. The smaller ones cost about the
same as a microwave.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/Wine-Cooler-Refrigerators/Compact_Wine_Coolers.shtml
wrote:
> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack.
might as well make it a wine cooler. The smaller ones cost about the
same as a microwave.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/Wine-Cooler-Refrigerators/Compact_Wine_Coolers.shtml
sf
Nov 16, 2012, 10:30:40 AM11/16/12
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On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:34:13 -0500, pltrgyst <pltr...@xhost.org>
wrote:
I think it's a great way to have a no fuss party once or twice a year.
Invite a few people for lunch/dinner at the club house.
wrote:
Invite a few people for lunch/dinner at the club house.
Steve Freides
Nov 16, 2012, 10:56:48 AM11/16/12
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moved into Ann's Choice, a retirement community, in around 2005, I
think, when they were both in their mid-80's. It was a tough decision
for them, but watching them as they've aged, it was a good one. The
place reminds both me and my wife of things like summer camp or a cruise
ship. They have their own apartment, complete with a fully functional
kitchen, but they pay to eat one meal per day, usually dinner, at one of
several community dining rooms. It's a big place, a couple of thousand
residents, I think, and thus they have several choices of where to eat,
e.g., they often take us when we're there to the cafeteria style place
where we can get pretty much what we want, e.g., they'll make a sandwich
to order from whatever they're serving that day. The place they usually
go to is sit-down with waiter service and several choices of entree,
sides, dessert, beverage, etc., every time.
The place also has a nursing home and that was where my wife's father
spent a few months during his last year - it's got an assisted living
portion and a portion that's closer in feel to a hospital.
My wife's parents became very friendly with their across-the-hall
neighbors and they do things like shop for each other. One could do a
lot worse than a place like this when you get to the age where things
like driving and even walking are difficult. You have quite a good
measure of independence but you're not alone.
I ramble - best of luck with your dining, uh, requirements. :)
-S-
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 11:06:06 AM11/16/12
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anything out of this membership. I don't need 12 tee times a year (no
interest in playing golf). I don't play tennis or croquet or bridge.
They hold "events" at the community center but they charge extra if you
attend. *If* was interested in planting a garden I'd have to rent a
plot, then drive over to tend/weed/fertilize and water it. Oh, and you
have to bring your own hose but they charge for the water. Sheesh!
If they could figure out a way to charge for the "library", they'd do
it. They can't because the books are all donated by residents and
shelved by volunteers. It's the only saving grace :)
I'm not sure what the hell I'm paying for! It's not like they maintain
the lawn. Then there's the fact that they charge people like plumbers
$10 to get on the island for a service call! Collect $10 or do not pass
GO. The contractors in turn pass the "gate fee" on to the residents in
their bill. So we're paying more to have our toilets fixed than other
people do.
For the most part I really like this house :) My last memories of my
parents are in this house. Sentimental, but there you have it. I've
lived here for five years. One tends to get attached.
Being a landlord (let's pretend the Board granted me permission) and
moving for a few years seems like an even bigger hassle.
I know I'm complaining, sorry about that. I *did* investigate selling
the house. It would have cost me thousands of dollars to get it ready
for listing. Houses here are on the market for 3-5 years. It's
actually cheaper to just bitch about it and suck it up :)
I *am* looking for a job, BTW. Even a part time office job would
alleviate the (to me) useless monthly fees.
Jill
sf
Nov 16, 2012, 11:22:18 AM11/16/12
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On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:56:48 -0500, "Steve Freides" <st...@kbnj.com>
wrote:
> It's been interesting for me and my wife to watch her parents - they
> moved into Ann's Choice, a retirement community, in around 2005, I
> think, when they were both in their mid-80's. It was a tough decision
> for them, but watching them as they've aged, it was a good one. The
> place reminds both me and my wife of things like summer camp or a cruise
> ship. They have their own apartment, complete with a fully functional
> kitchen, but they pay to eat one meal per day, usually dinner, at one of
> several community dining rooms. It's a big place, a couple of thousand
> residents, I think, and thus they have several choices of where to eat,
> e.g., they often take us when we're there to the cafeteria style place
> where we can get pretty much what we want, e.g., they'll make a sandwich
> to order from whatever they're serving that day. The place they usually
> go to is sit-down with waiter service and several choices of entree,
> sides, dessert, beverage, etc., every time.
>
> The place also has a nursing home and that was where my wife's father
> spent a few months during his last year - it's got an assisted living
> portion and a portion that's closer in feel to a hospital.
>
> My wife's parents became very friendly with their across-the-hall
> neighbors and they do things like shop for each other. One could do a
> lot worse than a place like this when you get to the age where things
> like driving and even walking are difficult. You have quite a good
> measure of independence but you're not alone.
Cruise ship is right! That's the kind of place my ex-neighbor moved
into. I used to think I'd never do it; but now that I see the
independence you have in that type of living situation, I'm warming up
to the idea. Mid 80's sounds like the right age to move into one too.
wrote:
> It's been interesting for me and my wife to watch her parents - they
> moved into Ann's Choice, a retirement community, in around 2005, I
> think, when they were both in their mid-80's. It was a tough decision
> for them, but watching them as they've aged, it was a good one. The
> place reminds both me and my wife of things like summer camp or a cruise
> ship. They have their own apartment, complete with a fully functional
> kitchen, but they pay to eat one meal per day, usually dinner, at one of
> several community dining rooms. It's a big place, a couple of thousand
> residents, I think, and thus they have several choices of where to eat,
> e.g., they often take us when we're there to the cafeteria style place
> where we can get pretty much what we want, e.g., they'll make a sandwich
> to order from whatever they're serving that day. The place they usually
> go to is sit-down with waiter service and several choices of entree,
> sides, dessert, beverage, etc., every time.
>
> The place also has a nursing home and that was where my wife's father
> spent a few months during his last year - it's got an assisted living
> portion and a portion that's closer in feel to a hospital.
>
> My wife's parents became very friendly with their across-the-hall
> neighbors and they do things like shop for each other. One could do a
> lot worse than a place like this when you get to the age where things
> like driving and even walking are difficult. You have quite a good
> measure of independence but you're not alone.
into. I used to think I'd never do it; but now that I see the
independence you have in that type of living situation, I'm warming up
to the idea. Mid 80's sounds like the right age to move into one too.
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 11:55:37 AM11/16/12
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On 11/16/2012 10:28 AM, sf wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:32:23 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack.
>
> If you're going to store decent wine for any amount of time, then you
> might as well make it a wine cooler. The smaller ones cost about the
> same as a microwave.
> http://www.beveragefactory.com/Wine-Cooler-Refrigerators/Compact_Wine_Coolers.shtml
>
There is indeed an outlet in that wall :) I could get an inexpensive
> On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:32:23 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack.
>
> If you're going to store decent wine for any amount of time, then you
> might as well make it a wine cooler. The smaller ones cost about the
> same as a microwave.
> http://www.beveragefactory.com/Wine-Cooler-Refrigerators/Compact_Wine_Coolers.shtml
>
wine cooler and set a small rack on top for the few reds. I rarely
drink red wine but if I've got to spend my assessment on something (and
the food ain't so great) might as well get a few bottles of red for guests.
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 12:03:25 PM11/16/12
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On 11/16/2012 10:56 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> On 11/15/2012 5:42 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>> Chemo wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sell the house and move.
>>>
>>> Sounds like a good idea to me, too, although if you're old enough to
>>> be taking care of aging parents, you're old enough to be considering
>>> a place that provides some meals to you in your own retirement. Maybe
>>> rent it out for a few years if you think you'd like it in your
>>> own retirement.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>>
>>>
>> Another one of their rules: not allowed to rent the house without
>> getting specific permission from the Board.will find a job soon :)
> jmcquown wrote:
>> On 11/15/2012 5:42 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>> Chemo wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sell the house and move.
>>>
>>> Sounds like a good idea to me, too, although if you're old enough to
>>> be taking care of aging parents, you're old enough to be considering
>>> a place that provides some meals to you in your own retirement. Maybe
>>> rent it out for a few years if you think you'd like it in your
>>> own retirement.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>>
>>>
>> Another one of their rules: not allowed to rent the house without
own cottage (think of the movie 'Cocoon'). There are activities (for a
while she taught water color painting). There is a full time nursing
home on the premises. She calls it "being In Care". She's not in the
least ready for that. She's still very active. There are shuttle buses
that take them into town for shopping, groceries and stuff. If she
wants to she can eat in the community dining room and I'm sure she often
does.
I'm not quite to that point :) And this isn't that sort of retirement
community.
Jill
gtr
Nov 16, 2012, 12:20:31 PM11/16/12
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On 2012-11-16 05:45:32 +0000, merryb said:
> 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
After much consideration on what Jill should do with her life I've
> 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
settled at the same point. Jill should at least have a partial vote in
our decision over what she should do in life.
Pico Rico
Nov 16, 2012, 12:35:25 PM11/16/12
to
"gtr" <x...@yyy.zzz> wrote in message news:2012111609203153090-xxx@yyyzzz...
care.
gtr
Nov 16, 2012, 1:40:57 PM11/16/12
to
can do as she likes even with her taxes and her healthcare, just like
the rest of us. It's radical, I know, but I want to include her in her
own life-decisions.
Gary
Nov 16, 2012, 5:41:55 PM11/16/12
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jmcquown wrote:
>
> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>
> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers. You lift the wooden
lid in the middle and the sewing machine comes up when you want to use it.
It actually worked too (with a little refurbishing). The only thing lacking
was a belt running from the machine to the treadle. I was able to still get
one from the Singer store that used to be here back then.
Anyway, I didn't buy it for sewing. It just looked so nice and I bought it
for living room decoration. Over the years, sometimes I'll keep a potted
plant on the treadle rack at the bottom and other times, I collect some nice
wine and store the bottles sideways and stacked on that treadle rack.
Gary :)
Gary
Nov 16, 2012, 5:50:12 PM11/16/12
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jmcquown wrote:
>
> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon :)
Didn't you say (a few months back) that you are trying to sell it, Jill?
>
> I'll just pay the damn bills and hopefully will find a job soon :)
Even then though, the buyers would have to be approved buy the
"association." What a PITA.
Sounds like you would be better off getting rid of that nonsense and buying
your own private house (heck...or even renting).
G.
Gary
Nov 16, 2012, 6:19:41 PM11/16/12
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Gary
Nunya Bidnits
Nov 16, 2012, 9:52:18 PM11/16/12
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Ed Pawlowski <e...@snet.net> wrote:
> If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for
> a drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
All you can drink for a year for $830? You can sign up a lot of people for a
> If the bar tab is included in the fee, you can have a few friends for
> a drunken orgy and suck up the $830 in a few hours.
deal like that!
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 10:42:13 PM11/16/12
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Jill
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 11:43:54 PM11/16/12
to
plus anything above that. You should see what they charge for a skimpy
glass of house chardonnay or a mug of (gag) Budweiser on tap. LOL
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 16, 2012, 11:46:05 PM11/16/12
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On 11/16/2012 5:41 PM, Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>
>
> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>
> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.
Yeah, my grandmother had one of those and yes, it worked. My cousin got
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one of my
>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>
>
> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>
> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.
it after she died.
> Anyway, I didn't buy it for sewing. It just looked so nice and I bought it
> for living room decoration. Over the years, sometimes I'll keep a potted
> plant on the treadle rack at the bottom and other times, I collect some nice
> wine and store the bottles sideways and stacked on that treadle rack.
>
> Gary :)
>
the potted plant on the treadle and a regular XXXXXX type wine rack on
the top :)
Jill
sf
Nov 17, 2012, 12:19:44 AM11/17/12
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On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:46:05 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:
> Might look nice but if I had a sewing machine/table like that I'd go for
> the potted plant on the treadle and a regular XXXXXX type wine rack on
> the top :)
I have a pair of love seats in the living room and mine serves as a
sofa table behind one of them. No plant on the treadle and family
photos on top.
wrote:
> Might look nice but if I had a sewing machine/table like that I'd go for
> the potted plant on the treadle and a regular XXXXXX type wine rack on
> the top :)
sofa table behind one of them. No plant on the treadle and family
photos on top.
Earl
Nov 17, 2012, 9:06:03 PM11/17/12
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Earl
Nov 17, 2012, 9:07:22 PM11/17/12
to
jmcquown wrote:
> On 11/16/2012 5:41 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one
>>> of my
>>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>>
>>
>> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>>
>> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
>> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.
>
> Yeah, my grandmother had one of those and yes, it worked. My cousin
> got it after she died.
>
That must have ruined you day, eh?
> On 11/16/2012 5:41 PM, Gary wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> Good idea! I could easily make room for a wine rack. There's a
>>> bookcase I stuck in one corner of the living room because it was an
>>> empty space. (There used to be a bar there, made of teak, but one
>>> of my
>>> brothers had asked for it and I was happy to let him take it.) The
>>> bookcase contains not books but useless tchotchkes people have given me
>>> over the years. I could box up the nicknacks and sell the bookcase.
>>> That space would be an excellent place for wine racks!
>>
>>
>> You can also be creative about your wine rack too, Jill.
>>
>> I bought an antique (circa 1905) treadle sewing table at an antique show
>> about 27 years ago. Very nice wood on top with drawers.
>
> Yeah, my grandmother had one of those and yes, it worked. My cousin
> got it after she died.
>
Kalmia
Nov 17, 2012, 9:36:14 PM11/17/12
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On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>
>
>
> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>
>
>
> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
sf
Nov 17, 2012, 11:27:04 PM11/17/12
to
jmcquown
Nov 18, 2012, 9:34:15 AM11/18/12
to
life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 18, 2012, 9:41:44 AM11/18/12
to
which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
after me about joining the club, oh well.)
In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
interest paid. <shrugs>
Jill
Ed Pawlowski
Nov 18, 2012, 10:06:07 AM11/18/12
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On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:34:15 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:
>>
>"Earl" rears his troll head anytime I mention the house. Nothing in
>life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
>the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
>premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
>HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
>call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
>over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
>a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL
>
>Jill
Someone once said to me, after finding out my house is paid for
"you're lucky" Sure, you get lucky after paying the mortgage and
working all your life.
wrote:
>>
>"Earl" rears his troll head anytime I mention the house. Nothing in
>life is free. Forget about the club. Maybe "Earl" would like to pay
>the property taxes and the homeowners, flood and wind & hail insurance
>premiums. Oh, and he can fork over the $9,000 I paid to replace the
>HVAC system in 2010. And reimburse me for the many times I've had to
>call a plumber or have electrical work done. Maybe he'd like to come
>over and clean the gutters. If he'd also mow the lawn I might offer him
>a "free" glass of lemonade. LOL
>
>Jill
"you're lucky" Sure, you get lucky after paying the mortgage and
working all your life.
jmcquown
Nov 18, 2012, 11:28:15 AM11/18/12
to
man. He never had a mortgage, not on this house or on the one we lived
in in Annandale, VA. He never had a car note, either. Dad didn't
believe in "credit". I think it's the Depression era mentality. If you
can't afford it, don't buy it. I completely agree.
Jill
Nancy Young
Nov 18, 2012, 12:30:17 PM11/18/12
to
On 11/18/2012 9:41 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
> interest paid. <shrugs>
You're not missing anything. Say you're in the 25% bracket, that means
> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
> interest paid. <shrugs>
you spend 75 cents to save 25 cents. And the standard deduction covers
a lot of expenses, it's over $11,000. If you don't have high real
estate taxes and charitable donations on top of your mortgage interest,
you probably come out ahead not itemizing.
nancy
Brooklyn1
Nov 18, 2012, 1:40:15 PM11/18/12
to
On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:41:44 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:
I have no mortgage, I paid all cash. But it's still very expensive to
live in a house, often a mortgage payment is the smallest bill... a
mortgage is not really a bill, you're paying yourself in equity...
after the last payment the house is yours, and you got to write of the
interest on the loan... a mortgage is only expensive in the beginning
when it's all interest, but very soon most of ones payment is
equity... in the end it cost very little plus one gets to live in it,
a lot better deal than paying rent, and we all know the value of rent
receipts. Most times a "free" house is NOT a gift, most times it's a
huge liability, like adopting a sick child... that's why in more than
90% of instances when children inherit a parent's house they sell it
fast at any price and divide the proceeds. I'm positive that were it
a different economy Jill would be happy to unload, but even at a
greatly undervalued price real estate is just not selling. Even in
good economic times that type of real estate is difficult to sell...
the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
slice of the population. Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
stayed where she was. I would have told my sibling to make me an
offer, let him buy me out, or simply put it up for sale immediately
and never moved in. That house is the proverbial albatross. To me
that house has no value whatsoever, not worth a cent... I couldn't
even plant a garden there. From what all I know about that house I'd
put it up for sale right now and if it didn't sell within the next six
months (at any price) I'd abandon it and get a life... living all
alone on an island far from civilization in a house one can't afford
and one does nothing but bitch about is not a life, no way, no how.
Just from all I've read here about that house over the years Jill
didn't inherit a house, Jill inherited a disease and it's now
beginning to look terminal.
wrote:
live in a house, often a mortgage payment is the smallest bill... a
mortgage is not really a bill, you're paying yourself in equity...
after the last payment the house is yours, and you got to write of the
interest on the loan... a mortgage is only expensive in the beginning
when it's all interest, but very soon most of ones payment is
equity... in the end it cost very little plus one gets to live in it,
a lot better deal than paying rent, and we all know the value of rent
receipts. Most times a "free" house is NOT a gift, most times it's a
huge liability, like adopting a sick child... that's why in more than
90% of instances when children inherit a parent's house they sell it
fast at any price and divide the proceeds. I'm positive that were it
a different economy Jill would be happy to unload, but even at a
greatly undervalued price real estate is just not selling. Even in
good economic times that type of real estate is difficult to sell...
the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
slice of the population. Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
stayed where she was. I would have told my sibling to make me an
offer, let him buy me out, or simply put it up for sale immediately
and never moved in. That house is the proverbial albatross. To me
that house has no value whatsoever, not worth a cent... I couldn't
even plant a garden there. From what all I know about that house I'd
put it up for sale right now and if it didn't sell within the next six
months (at any price) I'd abandon it and get a life... living all
alone on an island far from civilization in a house one can't afford
and one does nothing but bitch about is not a life, no way, no how.
Just from all I've read here about that house over the years Jill
didn't inherit a house, Jill inherited a disease and it's now
beginning to look terminal.
jmcquown
Nov 18, 2012, 2:28:57 PM11/18/12
to
On 11/18/2012 1:40 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:41:44 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/17/2012 9:36 PM, Kalmia wrote:
>>> On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>
>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>
>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>
>> Jill
>
> On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:41:44 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/17/2012 9:36 PM, Kalmia wrote:
>>> On Friday, November 16, 2012 10:42:19 PM UTC-5, jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage. I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live. I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>
>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>
>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>
>> Jill
>
> the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
> slice of the population.
That's true.
> slice of the population.
>Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
> old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
> think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
> stayed where she was.
care of my father, and then her.
> Just from all I've read here about that house over the years Jill
> didn't inherit a house, Jill inherited a disease and it's now
> beginning to look terminal.
>
to move here in the first place. Mom needed my help. I got the house.
Other than no mortgage there's nothing "free" about a house.
Jill
Brooklyn1
Nov 18, 2012, 4:35:22 PM11/18/12
to
jmcquown wrote:
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
permanently moving into their house... you could have kept your
apartment, or vacated and banked the rent until your parents passed
and then rented another place... at that time that house was more
saleable too.
>Other than no mortgage there's nothing "free" about a house.
That's right, the expenses associated with your living there are way
too much for a single person in your position, not wealthy unless
you're holding out on us. Jill, pretend you inherited nothing
(actually all you inherited is a burdon/liability) you need to sell
that house at any price and move, that house owns you. You don't play
golf, you don't participate in the social events, you don't even like
the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
mausoleum.
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> Kalmia wrote:
>>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>>
>>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage.
>>>> I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live.
>>>> I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>>
>>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>>
>>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
>> slice of the population.
>
>That's true.
>
>>Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
>> old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
>> think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
>> stayed where she was.
>
>I couldn't say "no thank you" when my mother needed me to help me take
>care of my father, and then her.
Caring for your parents had absolutely nothing to do with your
>>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I checked into selling. Among other things, the market sucks.
>>>>
>>>> Well, look at it this way. Inheriting a house sure beats a mortgage.
>>>> I'd just pay those fees and be thankful I had a decent place to live.
>>>> I wish someone would leave ME a house.
>>>>
>>> Oh, I do look at it that way! I definitely feel safe and secure here,
>>> which was Mom's goal in the first place. (She didn't know they'd come
>>> after me about joining the club, oh well.)
>>>
>>> In this case a mortgage might actually have been of some benefit for tax
>>> purposes. Something about itemizing and getting a deduction for the
>>> interest paid. <shrugs>
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> the market for golf course housing has always attracted a very small
>> slice of the population.
>
>That's true.
>
>>Jill's inheritance is no gift, she will grow
>> old there without much enjoyment from that property... personally I
>> think she'd have been far better off had she said no thank you and
>> stayed where she was.
>
>I couldn't say "no thank you" when my mother needed me to help me take
>care of my father, and then her.
permanently moving into their house... you could have kept your
apartment, or vacated and banked the rent until your parents passed
and then rented another place... at that time that house was more
saleable too.
>Other than no mortgage there's nothing "free" about a house.
too much for a single person in your position, not wealthy unless
you're holding out on us. Jill, pretend you inherited nothing
(actually all you inherited is a burdon/liability) you need to sell
that house at any price and move, that house owns you. You don't play
golf, you don't participate in the social events, you don't even like
the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
mausoleum.
jmcquown
Nov 19, 2012, 6:38:54 PM11/19/12
to
On 11/18/2012 4:35 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
it's not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months
out of the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into
February.
As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I
learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached
to people.
I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up with
a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a nice
dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light a fire
log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping a glass
of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching the birds :)
As for work, it's true there isn't much available in the area. I could
always go back to H&R Block as a receptionist and work for that very
disorganized franchise operation. NOT! I'll find something.
Jill
>> Brooklyn1 wrote:
> the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
> isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
> yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
> have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
> there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
> mausoleum.
>
Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club,
> the food at the clubhouse that you're forced to pay for, you're
> isolated and too far from civilization to even take a job to occupy
> yourself... you will grow old there without even realizing and not
> have lived a life. You've already lost all the years you've been
> there... it seems to me that your life is just slipping away in that
> mausoleum.
>
it's not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months
out of the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into
February.
As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I
learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached
to people.
I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up with
a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a nice
dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light a fire
log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping a glass
of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching the birds :)
As for work, it's true there isn't much available in the area. I could
always go back to H&R Block as a receptionist and work for that very
disorganized franchise operation. NOT! I'll find something.
Jill
Pico Rico
Nov 19, 2012, 7:14:07 PM11/19/12
to
"jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:agvu8j...@mid.individual.net...
>>
>
> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>
> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
> people.
I missed it and don't care to review the whole thread - where is "here"?
>
> Oh dear. I do paint a bleak picture, don't I? Aside from the club, it's
> not all that bleak. It's beautiful here, and warm about 9 months out of
> the year. I only need a coat in December & January, maybe into February.
>
> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has nothing
> to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat. I learned
> early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too attached to
> people.
gtr
Nov 19, 2012, 8:04:58 PM11/19/12
to
On 2012-11-19 23:38:54 +0000, jmcquown said:
> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat.
> I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too
> attached to people.
I was as well, more or less. But it also taught us to make friends
> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military brat.
> I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get too
> attached to people.
quickly. I find that is also common among service brats.
> I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up
> with a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a
> nice dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light
> a fire log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping a
> glass of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching
> the birds :)
say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
Message has been deleted
gtr
Nov 19, 2012, 10:31:03 PM11/19/12
to
On 2012-11-20 02:36:52 +0000, Sqwertz said:
> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
> and forgo the dining formalities?
Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
owe nothing. Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>
> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
> and forgo the dining formalities?
Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
owe nothing. Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
jmcquown
Nov 20, 2012, 7:58:35 AM11/20/12
to
Gary
Nov 20, 2012, 1:07:10 PM11/20/12
to
Pico Rico
Nov 20, 2012, 1:55:33 PM11/20/12
to
"Gary" <g.ma...@att.net> wrote in message news:50ABC6CE...@att.net...
whether it gets eaten or not!
Jean B.
Nov 20, 2012, 10:14:19 PM11/20/12
to
>
> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.
> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 8:43:34 AM11/21/12
to
Marines). Joe Schmoe can't just drive on in. It's one of the reasons
Mom wanted me to live here.
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 8:58:51 AM11/21/12
to
On 11/19/2012 10:31 PM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-20 02:36:52 +0000, Sqwertz said:
>
>> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
>> and forgo the dining formalities?
>
> Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
> eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
> owe nothing.
No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
> On 2012-11-20 02:36:52 +0000, Sqwertz said:
>
>> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:27:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> This ridiculous place where I live charges an annual assessment for
>>> dining at "the club". They do this whether you eat there or not. The
>>> way it works, they charge $830 per annum. If/when you eat at the club,
>>> they tack the food bill onto your monthly dues and the statement
>>> reflects the reduction in the annual assessment.
>>
>> Why not just get takeout surf and turf and a jug of wine once a month
>> and forgo the dining formalities?
>
> Maybe I didn't get this earlier: You pay $830 a year and if you don't
> eat there, that's that. If you eat a meal every month at $69.16, you
> owe nothing.
eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
full $830 come January.
> Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
> restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
> a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
>
> Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
>
out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
assessment. Understand?
Jill
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 9:11:27 AM11/21/12
to
Some of them are former Marines. Big burly guys. A few years back,
when Mom was still living, one of my brothers was coming to visit. I
had to call the gate to let them know, otherwise they wouldn't have let
him in. (I briefly considered refusing to let him in LOL)
Jill
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
gtr
Nov 21, 2012, 11:15:08 AM11/21/12
to
On 2012-11-21 13:43:34 +0000, jmcquown said:
>>>> D---- Island, South Carolina
>>>
>>> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
>>
>> It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.
>
> Yeah, electric gates, guards on duty 24/7 (some of them are former
> Marines). Joe Schmoe can't just drive on in. It's one of the reasons
> Mom wanted me to live here.
I threw them a cheeseburger. Now I'm ringing your doorbell--why won't
>>>> D---- Island, South Carolina
>>>
>>> Careful Jill. That's stalking info.
>>
>> It sounds like she's pretty safe there though. Thank goodness.
>
> Yeah, electric gates, guards on duty 24/7 (some of them are former
> Marines). Joe Schmoe can't just drive on in. It's one of the reasons
> Mom wanted me to live here.
you answer?
gtr
Nov 21, 2012, 11:21:40 AM11/21/12
to
On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:
> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
> full $830 come January.
Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
> full $830 come January.
room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.
Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.
>> Well, it's kinda chintzy being wired to a pre-paid
>> restaurant tab. Still, if the food is pretty decent I could burn up $70
>> a month in a couple of lunches or a dinner easily enough.
>>
>> Anyway--not worth moving over says Gtr, CPA.
>>
> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
> assessment. Understand?
"reduced by those amounts" but also is "tacked on" to the monthly bill.
Good luck with the entire mess.
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 11:25:41 AM11/21/12
to
On 11/19/2012 8:04 PM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-19 23:38:54 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
>> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military
>> brat. I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get
>> too attached to people.
>
> I was as well, more or less. But it also taught us to make friends
> quickly. I find that is also common among service brats.
>
Oh, I learned very quickly how to make friends everywhere we lived. I
> On 2012-11-19 23:38:54 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> As for socializing, I've *always* been a loner. Living here has
>> nothing to do with that. I blame that on being raised a military
>> brat. I learned early on I'd be moving every year or two, don't get
>> too attached to people.
>
> I was as well, more or less. But it also taught us to make friends
> quickly. I find that is also common among service brats.
>
also knew after moving, we would exchange a few letters (this was years
before the Internet) and then lose track of each other. No biggie.
>> I don't care about going out. My idea of a good time is curling up
>> with a good book or watching a classic movie. Cooking and enjoying a
>> nice dinner. In the Spring and Fall, when it's crisp outside, I light
>> a fire log in the fire pit on the patio and read a book while sipping
>> a glass of wine. It's very peaceful. And I love feeding and watching
>> the birds :)
>
> Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
> say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
> always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
>
applies but only a few times a year.
How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no interest
for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be read. Feels
too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like I'm expected
to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not my cup of tea.
When I sit outside by the fire pit, it's nice and peaceful. I read,
watch the birds flitting around, sometimes listen to a CD.
I'm friendly with my neighbor and take care of her cats when she goes
out of town. But her interests don't match mine. She likes to read,
sure. We sometimes exchange books. But she's also big into gardening.
She's got tons of potted plants on her patios. She's always out there
re-potting, adding fertilizer, etc. I couldn't care less about taking
care of a bunch of large potted plants.
Mostly our shared interest is in our cats.
Jill
gtr
Nov 21, 2012, 11:59:38 AM11/21/12
to
On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>> Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
>> say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
>> always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
>
> Nope, I don't care much about being around humans. Cooking sometimes
> applies but only a few times a year.
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
> my cup of tea.
[ There is nothing but musing below. It is not a commentary on other's
>> Don't you like to do all those things with another human? I sure do. I
>> say that like anybody will do, which is not the case. I guess I've
>> always been lucky in that regard. Yeah. Very lucky indeed.
>
> Nope, I don't care much about being around humans. Cooking sometimes
> applies but only a few times a year.
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
> my cup of tea.
choices. ]
I like to sit in the den with the wife and read a book. We have a cup
of tea and a snack. We comment on our books, ask a definition of a
word, watch the bird, cat, squirrel activity in the yard.
We've been in book groups together and that's a lot of fun but that's
another thing. You describe it, but that doesn't sound like any of the
2 or 3 book/film groups I've been in. We discuss what we liked and
didn't like, we relate it to other books/films, other people, other
writers, other topics. We attack one another's viewpoints with wit or
subdued condescension, but it's pretty sociable. Much like usenet.
We also have drink and snacks/meal.
> When I sit outside by the fire pit, it's nice and peaceful. I read,
> watch the birds flitting around, sometimes listen to a CD.
laugh about. We like to chatting and laughing do it endlessly. For a
few years there in the 80's I had no main squeeze and did as you say
above. It was pleasant enough but eventually became too simple. Time
felt like a ladder where I was idling on one rung, or an elevator
waiting patiently on the 5th floor. Nothing inherently wrong with it;
but time seemed like a conveiance that didn't convey anything.
And then there is loneliness. Not everybody gets it. Particularly for
people who've been hurt in love/life; loneliness isn't bad, it's a
blessed refuge. I was really lonely for the last year or two of the
80's. I remember weeping at some cornball TV movie and while I did, I
sort of pulled back and saw myself. I thought, "In a few years you'll
be hooked up with somebody new and you'll think of this as your 'lonely
time'." Just so.
> I'm friendly with my neighbor and take care of her cats when she goes
> out of town. But her interests don't match mine. She likes to read,
> sure. We sometimes exchange books. But she's also big into gardening.
> She's got tons of potted plants on her patios. She's always out
> there re-potting, adding fertilizer, etc. I couldn't care less about
> taking care of a bunch of large potted plants.
results to view and to eat. We don't share all our interests at all.
I'm endlessly playing a musical instrument, she weaves and paints. We
have a lot of hobbies.
pltrgyst
Nov 21, 2012, 3:38:35 PM11/21/12
to
On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>> my cup of tea.
That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
>
> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>> my cup of tea.
reasonable people?
Around here, most book clubs are as much dining groups as book groups.
(A universal truth is that people tend to be much more agreeable when
food is involved.) And not everyone even reads the books.
My wife's favorite group meets once a month at members' homes, in
rotation. Supper is organized around the location, period, or theme of
the book being discussed; each participant brings a dish or wine, as
assigned by the hostess.
At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
usually, acclaim.
One thing we've learned over the decades: if you don't like the book
groups you find, start your own with people of a similar bent. You'll
soon figure out if the unreasonable people are them, or you. 8;)
-- Larry
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 4:05:37 PM11/21/12
to
On 11/21/2012 3:38 PM, pltrgyst wrote:
> On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>>
>> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
>> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
>> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>>> my cup of tea.
>
> That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
> reasonable people?
>
I know plenty of intelligent, reasonable people. We don't share the
> On 2012-11-21 16:25:41 +0000, jmcquown said:
>>
>> How do you read a book with another person? Book clubs hold no
>> interest for me, mostly because some "leader" assigns a book to be
>> read. Feels too much like a school reading assignment and I feel like
>>> I'm expected to analyze it and turn in a book report. That's just not
>>> my cup of tea.
>
> That would be repellent to me, too. Don't you know any intelligent and
> reasonable people?
>
same tastes in books or hobbies. I'd rather just read a book and enjoy
it all by myself. Then move on to the next book. (I read about 4 books
a week.)
> My wife's favorite group meets once a month at members' homes, in
> rotation. Supper is organized around the location, period, or theme of
> the book being discussed; each participant brings a dish or wine, as
> assigned by the hostess.
>
wine someone should bring to anything? I'm not the hostess type. Sorry
if that bothers anyone.
Jill
Brooklyn1
Nov 21, 2012, 4:28:56 PM11/21/12
to
On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:38:35 -0500, pltrgyst <pltr...@xhost.org>
wrote:
Most public libraries sponsor book clubs, members meet at the library
periodically for discussion, no food/drink is involved.
There are clubs for every endeaver, where folks with like interests
gather to discuss having the same experiences, like travel, wine
tasting, photography, movie clubs, the list is endless. Lots of
people like to gather to discuss books they have read with others who
have also read the same book, doesn't mean they physically read the
book to each other. I used to belong to a library book club, there
would always be a list of books suggested each month, never just one
book, and many people didn't participate in discussion, they only
listened to the others... it was primarilly a social event with a
theme... a good way for people to meet other folks with like
interests, ie. liking to read. Some folks are simply not social,
they'd not like joining any club... clubs really only have value for
people who enjoy sharing.
wrote:
periodically for discussion, no food/drink is involved.
There are clubs for every endeaver, where folks with like interests
gather to discuss having the same experiences, like travel, wine
tasting, photography, movie clubs, the list is endless. Lots of
people like to gather to discuss books they have read with others who
have also read the same book, doesn't mean they physically read the
book to each other. I used to belong to a library book club, there
would always be a list of books suggested each month, never just one
book, and many people didn't participate in discussion, they only
listened to the others... it was primarilly a social event with a
theme... a good way for people to meet other folks with like
interests, ie. liking to read. Some folks are simply not social,
they'd not like joining any club... clubs really only have value for
people who enjoy sharing.
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 4:55:25 PM11/21/12
to
On 11/21/2012 11:21 AM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
>> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them
>> the full $830 come January.
>
> Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
> room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.
>
> Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
> call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
> maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.
>
The association fees are above and beyond what I am assessed for dining.
> On 2012-11-21 13:58:51 +0000, jmcquown said:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If
>> I don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them
>> the full $830 come January.
>
> Okay then; pretty much a gate fee. It costs $830 to get access to the
> room where you can eat or not eat as you like--and pay for it too.
>
> Ah well. I'd just consider it "association fees". They could could
> call it anything they like, communal gardening fees, fountain
> maintenance, snipe protection fees, etc.
>
>> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
>> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
>> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
>> assessment. Understand?
>
> I think I do now. But your wording is odd to say the least: A meal is
> "reduced by those amounts" but also is "tacked on" to the monthly bill.
assessment anytime you buy food or drink but then they tack the cost of
it onto the monthly bill and reduce the dining assessment by what you've
bought. Then they charge you for what you haven't used at the end of
the year. It's hard to explain.
> Good luck with the entire mess.
>
Jill
meda...@gmail.com
Nov 21, 2012, 5:02:26 PM11/21/12
to
gtr
Nov 21, 2012, 5:04:46 PM11/21/12
to
On 2012-11-21 20:38:35 +0000, pltrgyst said:
> At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
> Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
> usually, acclaim.
That's an interesting approach. Those who tend more to the obscure
> At each meeting, the book for the meeting two months later is selected.
> Everyone pimps their own suggestion, and selection is by vote, or, more
> usually, acclaim.
books, like me, would have a hard time with majority rules. All the
groups I've been involved in have been each participant selecting the
book for the meeing at their home.
> One thing we've learned over the decades: if you don't like the book
> groups you find, start your own with people of a similar bent. You'll
> soon figure out if the unreasonable people are them, or you. 8;)
met my wife, by the way. She is not longer in that group but is
currently in THREE book groups. Amazing.
Brooklyn1
Nov 21, 2012, 5:40:23 PM11/21/12
to
The club assesses a minimum dining fee whether one eats or not.
Whatever one orders its price is deducted from the assessment... at
the end of the year one may have a balance owing so will be billed.
It's not that difficult nowadays for ones yearly dining tab to
reach/exceed $830. Or one can simply not eat or not eat much at the
club and forfeit the assessment or part thereof. Thet fee can really
be considered membership dues, like joining BJs and never shopping
there or not buying very much... lots of folks buy a food club
membership and then don't use it, or not use it enough to warrant the
fee. In Jill's case she has no choice over the assessment, one of the
terms of living at that restricted development mandates that everyone
is assessed that dining fee. Most golf club memberships, whether
there is housing or not, assess or include a clubhouse dining fee in
the cost of membership. The golf courses where I live, and there are
many, whether there is housing or not, also enforce a strict dress
code whether one is golfing or just hanging around outside or in order
to gain entry into the dining area... you can't sit at the bar in
jeans and tee shirt. Golf is a pricey endeaver and those private
clubs do whatever they can to maintain a clientele of a particular
socieo economic strata, those fees are there to keep the riff raff
out.
Krypsis
Nov 21, 2012, 5:57:36 PM11/21/12
to
On 17/11/2012 5:40 AM, gtr wrote:
> On 2012-11-16 17:35:25 +0000, Pico Rico said:
>
>> "gtr" <x...@yyy.zzz> wrote in message
>> news:2012111609203153090-xxx@yyyzzz...
>>> On 2012-11-16 05:45:32 +0000, merryb said:
>>>
>>>> 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
>>>
>>> After much consideration on what Jill should do with her life I've
>>> settled at the same point. Jill should at least have a partial vote
>>> in our decision over what she should do in life.
>>
>> except how much taxes she pays, and how we care to deal with her
>> health care.
>
> No, I haven't limited my viewpoints with these issues: I believe she can
> do as she likes even with her taxes and her healthcare, just like the
> rest of us. It's radical, I know, but I want to include her in her own
> life-decisions.
>
Watch it! You're trying to create a precedent!
--
Krypsis
> On 2012-11-16 17:35:25 +0000, Pico Rico said:
>
>> "gtr" <x...@yyy.zzz> wrote in message
>> news:2012111609203153090-xxx@yyyzzz...
>>> On 2012-11-16 05:45:32 +0000, merryb said:
>>>
>>>> 100% agree- I think Jill should live where she wants.
>>>
>>> After much consideration on what Jill should do with her life I've
>>> settled at the same point. Jill should at least have a partial vote
>>> in our decision over what she should do in life.
>>
>> except how much taxes she pays, and how we care to deal with her
>> health care.
>
> No, I haven't limited my viewpoints with these issues: I believe she can
> do as she likes even with her taxes and her healthcare, just like the
> rest of us. It's radical, I know, but I want to include her in her own
> life-decisions.
>
Watch it! You're trying to create a precedent!
--
Krypsis
jmcquown
Nov 21, 2012, 7:59:56 PM11/21/12
to
bill.
at
> the end of the year one may have a balance owing so will be billed.
> It's not that difficult nowadays for ones yearly dining tab to
> reach/exceed $830. Or one can simply not eat or not eat much at the
> club and forfeit the assessment or part thereof. Thet fee can really
> be considered membership dues,
Completely separate from the dining assessment.
Jill
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Ed Pawlowski
Nov 22, 2012, 1:31:28 AM11/22/12
to
On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:58:09 -0600, Sqwertz <swe...@cluemail.compost>
wrote:
>On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:58:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
>> don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
>> full $830 come January.
>
>I think you just lost us all there. Can you try and rephrase that?
Speak for yourself. Makes perfect sense to me.
>
>We've all been working under the assumption that you pay $830/year no
>matter what. That gives you an $830 credit for food for the calendar
>year.
>
>Circle one: Yes No
Yes, but you get credit for actual food purchases. No. One answer
does not work for two questions.
>
>Otherwise, why would you feel you need to go there if you're just
>paying extra for it?
She isn't paying extra.
>
>> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
>> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
>> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
>> assessment. Understand?
>
>See, now you're implying that your $830 bill goes DOWN the more you
>eat there. Which makes no sense at all.
Makes perfect sense as that is how it works. The bill is not a bill
until the end of the year. It is a minimum she must buy and that goes
down with every purchase.
> I think you're making this
>harder than it needs to be. Or else you really don't understand how
>it works (and are not explaining it right).
>
>-sw
She does not pay in advance. If, however, she does not buy $830 in
food over the year, she owes up to that amount at the END of the year.
It is not prepaid, it is post paid.
There are thousands of golf clubs, tennis clubs, country clubs that
have the same policy. You have a minimum to spend each year. If you
don't spend it, you pay anyway.
Do you have a cell phone? You pay a flat fee every month and get say,
500 minutes to use. If you use them exactly, you pay nothing extra.
If you use more, you pay more. If you use less, tough crap, you are
still going to pay that $xxx for the month.
wrote:
>On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:58:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
>> don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
>> full $830 come January.
>
Speak for yourself. Makes perfect sense to me.
>
>We've all been working under the assumption that you pay $830/year no
>matter what. That gives you an $830 credit for food for the calendar
>year.
>
>Circle one: Yes No
Yes, but you get credit for actual food purchases. No. One answer
does not work for two questions.
>
>Otherwise, why would you feel you need to go there if you're just
>paying extra for it?
She isn't paying extra.
>
>> I had lunch at the club once, earlier this year, then ordered two take
>> out meals last week. So the $830 assessment has been reduced by those
>> amounts. I still have to pay for whatever is left of the $830 annual
>> assessment. Understand?
>
>eat there. Which makes no sense at all.
Makes perfect sense as that is how it works. The bill is not a bill
until the end of the year. It is a minimum she must buy and that goes
down with every purchase.
> I think you're making this
>harder than it needs to be. Or else you really don't understand how
>it works (and are not explaining it right).
>
>-sw
She does not pay in advance. If, however, she does not buy $830 in
food over the year, she owes up to that amount at the END of the year.
It is not prepaid, it is post paid.
There are thousands of golf clubs, tennis clubs, country clubs that
have the same policy. You have a minimum to spend each year. If you
don't spend it, you pay anyway.
Do you have a cell phone? You pay a flat fee every month and get say,
500 minutes to use. If you use them exactly, you pay nothing extra.
If you use more, you pay more. If you use less, tough crap, you are
still going to pay that $xxx for the month.
jmcquown
Nov 22, 2012, 8:37:48 AM11/22/12
to
On 11/22/2012 12:58 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:58:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
> On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:58:51 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> No, it's not prepaid. They charge me $830/a year for dining, whether I
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
>> don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
>> full $830 come January.
>
>> eat or drink anything from the club or not. *Then* the cost of each
>> meal/beverage ordered is tacked on to the monthly membership bill. If I
>> don't dine in (or get takeout) from the club by 12/31, I owe them the
>> full $830 come January.
>
> I think you just lost us all there. Can you try and rephrase that?
>
>
> We've all been working under the assumption that you pay $830/year no
> matter what. That gives you an $830 credit for food for the calendar
> year.
>
> Circle one: Yes No
>
Yes, I pay it no matter what.
> matter what. That gives you an $830 credit for food for the calendar
> year.
>
> Circle one: Yes No
>
> See, now you're implying that your $830 bill goes DOWN the more you
> harder than it needs to be. Or else you really don't understand how
> it works (and are not explaining it right).
>
> -sw
>
Example:
> it works (and are not explaining it right).
>
> -sw
>
January 1 - Dining Assessment $830
January 15 - order $10 hamburger $820 remaining
Bill for January (rec. in February) $285 + $10 hamburger
Monthly membership dues + food $295
February 1 remaining assessment $820
February 10 - $14 Fish & Chips $806 remaining
Bill for Feb. (in March) $285 + $14 Fish/chips
Monthly membership dues + food: $299
March 1 remaining assessment $806
Don't order from or eat at club still $806
Bill for March membership dues only $285
April 1 remaining assessment $806
April 20 - chicken sandwich $12 $794 remaining
Bill for April $285 + $12 chk sand
Monthly membership dues + food $297
And so on through the year...
It *is* confusing. Anything from the initial $830 I haven't used by
December 31 is due in full when I get the December bill in January.
Then it starts all over again. Basically it's eat and pay for it or
don't eat and pay for it anyway. They don't care which.
Jill
Gary
Nov 22, 2012, 9:16:44 AM11/22/12
to
jmcquown wrote:
>
> It *is* confusing. Anything from the initial $830 I haven't used by
> December 31 is due in full when I get the December bill in January.
> Then it starts all over again. Basically it's eat and pay for it or
> don't eat and pay for it anyway. They don't care which.
>
> Jill
Jill, you mentioned eating very little there in this past year. Sounds like
>
> It *is* confusing. Anything from the initial $830 I haven't used by
> December 31 is due in full when I get the December bill in January.
> Then it starts all over again. Basically it's eat and pay for it or
> don't eat and pay for it anyway. They don't care which.
>
> Jill
you need to eat or take out quite a bit before December 31. You might as
well get the food since you'll pay for it even if you don't.
:-D
Pico Rico
Nov 22, 2012, 9:30:51 AM11/22/12
to
"gtr" <x...@yyy.zzz> wrote in message news:2012112114044670154-xxx@yyyzzz...
Poor soul.
jmcquown
Nov 22, 2012, 9:52:58 AM11/22/12
to
anyway so on the way home I stopped and ordered *two* of them to go.
One to have for a late lunch/early dinner, the other to put in a freezer
container for another time. I had a glass of house wine while I waited
($5).
I figured, how badly could they screw up a chicken pot pie? (Swanson's
and Banquet make them all the time. LOLOL) Well, they managed. It was
a little bit of chicken in gravy with *lots* of peas. May as well have
called it "pea pot pie". Very few carrots, barely any potatoes. And
the crust was simply a biscuit set on the top.
If the food was *spectacular* I might not mind this dining assessment.
But it's iffy at best and way overpriced. The only *good* thing I've
eaten from there was that steak & kidney pie. I should have ordered two
of them. But at $16 for a single serving, I *know* I can make it at
home in a quantity for 4-6 people and spend about the same, if not less.
Jill
Brooklyn1
Nov 22, 2012, 12:56:34 PM11/22/12
to
bottles, except you pay the deposit up front, if you don't return the
bottles you're out the deposit. When you buy a monthly ticket for the
Lung Guyland railroad you pay in advance and they don't care if you
never ride.
Brooklyn1
Nov 22, 2012, 1:06:18 PM11/22/12
to
that joint must all be afflicted with chronic TIAD. Opportunity
knocks... there's your employment... apply for a job as their chef.
You can do it, and you're not seasonal, you're there all year anyway.
Don't sell yourself short, don't even think waitress/clerk. And you
can walk to work!
jmcquown
Nov 22, 2012, 1:14:02 PM11/22/12
to
On 11/22/2012 1:06 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> Gary wrote:
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>> It *is* confusing. Anything from the initial $830 I haven't used by
>>>> December 31 is due in full when I get the December bill in January.
>>>> Then it starts all over again. Basically it's eat and pay for it or
>>>> don't eat and pay for it anyway. They don't care which.
>>>>
>>>> Jill
>>>
>>> Jill, you mentioned eating very little there in this past year. Sounds like
>>> you need to eat or take out quite a bit before December 31. You might as
>>> well get the food since you'll pay for it even if you don't.
>>>
>>> :-D
>>>
>> Yesterday's "lunch special" was chicken pot pie ($8). I had to go out
>> anyway so on the way home I stopped and ordered *two* of them to go.
>> One to have for a late lunch/early dinner, the other to put in a freezer
>> container for another time. I had a glass of house wine while I waited
>> ($5).
>>
>> I figured, how badly could they screw up a chicken pot pie? (Swanson's
>> and Banquet make them all the time. LOLOL) Well, they managed. It was
>> a little bit of chicken in gravy with *lots* of peas. May as well have
>> called it "pea pot pie". Very few carrots, barely any potatoes. And
>> the crust was simply a biscuit set on the top.
>>
> jmcquown wrote:
>> Gary wrote:
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>>
>>>> It *is* confusing. Anything from the initial $830 I haven't used by
>>>> December 31 is due in full when I get the December bill in January.
>>>> Then it starts all over again. Basically it's eat and pay for it or
>>>> don't eat and pay for it anyway. They don't care which.
>>>>
>>>> Jill
>>>
>>> Jill, you mentioned eating very little there in this past year. Sounds like
>>> you need to eat or take out quite a bit before December 31. You might as
>>> well get the food since you'll pay for it even if you don't.
>>>
>>> :-D
>>>
>> Yesterday's "lunch special" was chicken pot pie ($8). I had to go out
>> anyway so on the way home I stopped and ordered *two* of them to go.
>> One to have for a late lunch/early dinner, the other to put in a freezer
>> container for another time. I had a glass of house wine while I waited
>> ($5).
>>
>> I figured, how badly could they screw up a chicken pot pie? (Swanson's
>> and Banquet make them all the time. LOLOL) Well, they managed. It was
>> a little bit of chicken in gravy with *lots* of peas. May as well have
>> called it "pea pot pie". Very few carrots, barely any potatoes. And
>> the crust was simply a biscuit set on the top.
>>
> If they are getting away with crap cooking the folks who patronize
> that joint must all be afflicted with chronic TIAD. Opportunity
> knocks... there's your employment... apply for a job as their chef.
> You can do it, and you're not seasonal, you're there all year anyway.
> Don't sell yourself short, don't even think waitress/clerk. And you
> can walk to work!
>
LOL Thanks for the suggestion but I wouldn't want to work as a chef.
> that joint must all be afflicted with chronic TIAD. Opportunity
> knocks... there's your employment... apply for a job as their chef.
> You can do it, and you're not seasonal, you're there all year anyway.
> Don't sell yourself short, don't even think waitress/clerk. And you
> can walk to work!
>
(In fact I *never* want to work in a restaurant ever again.) Walk to
work? Not likely. The club is 3 miles from my house.
Jill
Cheryl
Nov 22, 2012, 10:41:43 PM11/22/12
to
On 11/22/2012 9:16 AM, Gary wrote:
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